What information do I need to give for identity theft protection? How quickly can it be activated?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. What information do I need to give for identity theft protection? How quickly can it be activated?

A. Most identity theft protection services, including top-rated Identity Guard Total Protection, Trusted ID, and LifeLock, require similar information: first and last name, full street address (with state and ZIP code), phone number, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address. If you haven't lived at your current address for at least the past six months, you will need to provide your previous address.

You will also need to give your credit card information; even though most companies offer a free trial, they need to start billing you after that trial period has passed unless you cancel the service.

Each service takes a different amount of time to kick in. For example, both Identity Guard Total Protection and Trusted ID begin as soon as you sign up, but others, such as Protect My ID, require more time for parts of the service — the credit monitoring can begin immediately, but the account protection depends on when you enter that information for the accounts and how long it takes to verify.

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Someone is having their bill collectors call our phone. How do we get them to stop? Will this affect our credit scores or anything else?

Q:  Someone is having their bill collectors call our phone.  How do we get them to stop?  Will this affect our credit scores or anything else?  We live in a small town and we do have Lifelock.

A: There are 2 possibilities here.  The first is that someone has stolen your identity and used it to take out loans.  Then when they didn't repay the loans, the bill collectors started calling you to collect the (fraudulently taken) money.  I'm hoping that you have investigated that possibility, and thoroughly checked all of your credit reports for fraud.  I understand that you're a member of LifeLock, but if the identity theft occurred prior to your membership start date there is the possibly you aren't aware of it.  If this is the case, take a look at our blog on what to do if you're a victim of identity theft.  If the identity theft occurred during your membership (which is highly unlikely), you should contact LifeLock directly for guidance on next steps.

The second possibility is that the bill collectors are pursuing someone else's debt, and are calling your phone number erroneously.  Getting them to stop may be hard, because they can be persistent.  You can always pick up the phone and let them know you're not the correct person.   While you're doing that, I would ask to speak to their supervisor and verify who they are actually trying to contact.  If they are calling for you, this is more likely a case of identity theft.

A quick solution to avoiding erroneous bill collection calls is to use caller ID to identify the callers.  That way you can determine who is calling prior to picking up the phone.  It works great when I want to avoid specific calls!

Regarding your credit scores, they will most likely be negatively affected if your identity was stolen.  If the bill collectors are just tracking down someone else's debt and happen to have your phone number by mistake, your credit scores won't be harmed.

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How long are the contracts for identity theft protection? Are there any that are month to month?

Q:  How long are the contracts for identity theft protection?  Are there any that are month to month?

A: All of the identity theft protection services reviewed on our site offer month-to-month commitments.  Two of them, Trusted ID and Lifelock, have both month-to-month and annual options.  If you choose their annual plan you'll receive a discounted monthly price.  But you can always forgo the discount and select a month to month plan.

We do recommend keeping identity theft protection longer than a month or two, because it's impossible to predict when a crime may occur.  If you want to try them out first, the majority of the companies on this site offer free trials of their identity theft protection service.  To find the right option for your needs, check out our comparison chart.

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What protection is available once your identity has been stolen?

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question:

Q: I would like to get information on what protection is available for a person who identity is already stolen and is being attempted to be used. I was wondering about instant alerts any time my name or credit is trying to be used or credit being extended. Please contact me with this information at your earliest convenience. Thank you!

A: What you have described in your question is called a fraud alert, and it is definitely a good idea to set these alerts with the credit bureaus if you believe that your identity has been stolen. Once you set a fraud alert with one credit bureau, that bureau will notify the other two. Fraud alerts expire after 90 days, so you'll need to reset them if you want to continue to be protected. LifeLock, one of our top-reviewed identity theft protection services, can help walk you through the process of setting fraud alerts and send you reminders when they need to be reset.

You may also want to consider a credit freeze, which would lock down your credit report to prevent any new accounts from being opened in your name. The details of setting a credit freeze vary depending on your state, but you would have to pay a small fee of $10.00 or so to set the freeze, and again when you are ready to unfreeze your account. You would have to set the credit freeze with each bureau individually, and pay the fee three times. You can learn more about freezing your credit and setting fraud alerts at ConsumersUnion.org.

It is a good idea to invest in an identity theft protection service, since in addition to taking measures to prevent and detect identity theft, most of these services will also help you restore your identity if you do become a victim. To learn more about LifeLock and other identity theft protection services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

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U.S. Justice Department indicts international ATM hacking ring

Yesterday, the U.S. Justice Department indicted eight men who allegedly hacked into a computer system at RBS WorldPay Inc., cloned prepaid ATM cards, and used them to withdraw $9 million from 2,100 ATMs in 280 cities around the world, in less than 12 hours. The prepaid ATM cards that they cloned were payroll debit cards that companies issue to their employees. The hackers raised the maximum withdrawal amounts and attempted to destroy data in order to remove evidence of the breach. Charges against the hackers include wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. One of the accused has been arrested and is awaiting extradition from Estonia, and the rest remain at large. Authorities say this hacking ring is one of the most sophisticated in the world.

According to Shawn Henry, the assistant director of the FBI's cyber division, "More money is stolen electronically or [in] data breaches than through bank robberies." RBS customers have been reimbursed for the stolen funds, but a class action lawsuit is pending against RBS WorldPay, alleging that the company failed to adequately protect consumer data. RBS WorldPay has acknowledged that the breach impacted 1.5 million cardholders, and that 1.1 million Social Security numbers may have been compromised.

There's no way to ensure that your Social Security number or other sensitive personal data remain safe from these types of hackers. But identity theft protection services like TrustedID, LifeLock, and Identity Guard scan the Internet's black market websites to find out whether your information is being bought or sold. They'll also alert you if anyone attempts to create new accounts in your name. To learn more about TrustedID, LifeLock, Identity Guard, and other identity theft protection services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

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LifeLock wins 2009 ACE Award

This week, LifeLock received a 2009 Arizona Corporate Excellence Award, and was recognized as Arizona's fastest growing company. The ACE Award is presented based on revenue growth over the most recent two years, using both actual dollar growth and percentage-revenue growth over those same years. In 2008, LifeLock's member base grew by over 204%.

"It's a tremendous honor for us," said LifeLock CEO Todd Davis. "We've seen phenomenal growth over the last few years, and I'm proud of my team to meet the challenges that come with the fast-changing dynamics. I'm also proud to be helping to build our community right here in Arizona."

LifeLock rapid growth makes sense, given that identity fraud continues to increase relentlessly, reaching a five year high last year after a 22% rise from the year before. As this crime becomes even more prevelent, the need for an identity theft protection service becomes even more apparent. And LifeLock has proven itself as an industry leader.

To learn more about LifeLock and other identity theft protection services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

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Child Identity Theft Protection Guide

Eight simple tips to prevent your children from becoming victims of America's fastest growing crime
You may already know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, but you probably didn't realize that the fastest growing segment of identity theft victims are children.

The FTC reports that 5% of the 255,000 victims of identity theft in 2005, the most recent year in which data on the subject was available, were under the age of 18. The number of victims is up 40% from 3% in 2003. Most of these cases take place very early on with over half occurring prior to the age of 6 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Awareness seems to be the biggest problem in helping to prevent child identity theft. A recent Experian-Gallup poll found that 68% of respondents had heard little or nothing about identity theft crimes against children. But, that doesn't mean that children aren't falling victim to identity thieves at a rapid rate. That same poll found that 7% of respondents knew a child that had been victimized by identity theft.

Identity theft perpetrated against children can be particularly debilitating because it is often years or decades after the crime occurs that the victim becomes aware. There are hundreds of stories of adults that attempt to apply for their first line of credit only to find that their identity had been stolen years earlier while they were underage and, as a result, their credit was destroyed before they even had a chance start practicing healthy credit habits.

We have compiled eight simple steps that parents or guardians can take to help ensure that their children don't fall victim to identity thieves.

1. Eliminate non-essential disclosure of your child's social security number
2. Monitor your child's postal mail
3. Limit the amount of personal information that is available about your child on the Internet
4. Contact each of the three major credit bureaus on your child's behalf every quarter
5. Contact the Social Security Administration on your child's behalf at least once per year
6. Involve your local authorities if you feel your child has been victimized
7. Consider a proactive identity theft solution provider for your entire family
8. Help curb child identity theft by sharing these tips with other parents

Eliminate non-essential disclosure of your child's social security number
A social security number is the single most dangerous piece of information in the hands of an identity thief. With your child's social security number an identity thief potentially has the ability to open lines of credit in your child's name.

You should only provide this information when it is absolutely necessary. Anytime anyone asks you to provide your child's social security number ask the following questions:

• Why is my child's social security number required?
• How will my child's social security number be used?
• Who will have access to my child's social security number?
• Where will my child's social security number be stored?

If the requestor is not able to provide you with sufficient answers to these questions then it is best to decline to provide this information.

It is also a good idea to store your child's social security card in a safe place such as a locked file cabinet, safe or safety deposit box. You should never let your child have direct access to their social security card as it is too easy for it to be misplaced and end up in the wrong hands.

Monitor your child's postal mail

If credit card offers, late payment notices or other suspicious financial items show up addressed to your underage child don't assume they are simply mistakes by the sender. Your minor child should never receive:

• Offers of credit from lenders of any kind including credit card companies, mortgage lenders or student loans.
• Bills, past due or collections notices for any type of financial or other type of account
• Social Security Administration account statements

If you do receive these types of communications, or any other suspicious looking mail, in your child's name follow up with the company or agency that sent them to determine the reason they were sent in the first place.

If there are unauthorized financial accounts (or any type of account that was not legitimately opened) in your child's name then it is likely your child has fallen victim to identity theft. Notify the company where the account is held as well as all three of the credit bureaus (see point #4 below) and your local police department (see point #6 below).
Limit the amount of personal information that is available about your child on the Internet

The Internet is a great tool to communicate with friends and family, but it is also a great source for identity thieves to mine personal information about your child. Never post any personal information about your child, such as date of birth or address, on any website (especially not any website that is publicly available or doesn't have password protection).

If your child is old enough to access the Internet on their own, make sure you monitor their usage as well. Many websites such as MySpace, Facebook and others make it very easy for children to post vast amounts of personal information about themselves.

Also, make sure you discuss the various dangers of openly communicating personal information to strangers on the Internet with your children. They are never too young to start practicing safe Internet usage.
Contact each of the three major credit bureaus on your child's behalf every quarter
None of the three major credit bureaus, which include Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, maintain credit files on anyone under the age of 18. If your underage child has a credit file with one of the bureaus that potentially means they have been victimized.

We recommend that parents request a credit report on behalf of their child from each of the three credit bureaus once per quarter.

Here are instructions on how to contact Experian, Equifax and TransUnion on your child's behalf:

Experian
Phone Number: (888) 397-3742
Website: http://www.experian.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Experian
PO Box 9532
Allen , TX 75013

How to request a review of your child's credit file from Experian:

Parents are required to mail in documentation that prooves they are the legal guardian of the child. An example of sufficient documentation is a child's birth certificate and a copy of the parent's driver's license.

If no credit file exists for the child then Experian will send written notification by mail. This is good news because it means your child's identity has not been compromised.

If a credit file does exist then Experian will send a copy of the credit file to the parent. This means that it is likely your child's identity has been stolen. The parent may then dispute any fraudulent items on their child's credit file. Experian will also place a credit lock on the child's credit file so that no additional credit may be extended to them until they turn 18 years old.

Equifax
Phone Number: (800) 658-1111
Website: http://www.equifax.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta , GA 30348

How to request a review of your child's credit file from Equifax:

Parents are required to mail in documentation that prooves they are the legal guardian of the child. An example of sufficient documentation is a child's birth certificate and a copy of the parent's driver's license. If a record is found Equifax will erase any fraudulent accounts and remove the credit file from their system and flag the child's social security number as belonging to a minor. Equifax does not provide copies of the child's credit report to parents.

TransUnion
Phone Number: (800) 916-8800
Website: http://www.transunion.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Trans Union PO Box 6790
Fullerton , CA 92834

How to request a review of your child's credit file from TransUnion:

TransUnion has set up a special email address for parents to use in order to request their child's credit report. Parents can send an email to childidtheft@transunion.com. TransUnion will then send back instructions on how to request a credit report. If a credit report does exist then TransUnion will lock the child's credit file until they turn 18 years old.

It is important to remember that contacting just one of the credit bureaus is not sufficient protection because many lenders only report to one or two of the credit bureaus. So, for example, if only Experian is contacted and a lender that has extended credit to an identity thief pretending to be your child only reports that credit to Equifax and TransUnion, you would not be alerted.

Keeping up with all three bureaus each quarter, or twelve total inquiries per year, can be a lot of work but it is extremely important. It can be overwhelming and that is why we strongly suggest that parents consider protecting their families with and identity protection service such as LifeLock, which does most of the work for you (see point #7 below).

Contact the Social Security Administration on your child's behalf at least once per year

The social security administration can be reached by phone at (800) 772-1213 and will be able to provide you with any records attached to your child's social security number.

Your minor child should not have any work history associated with their social security number. If they do, it is likely that someone is fraudulently using it to gain employment. If your child has a work permit and does have a valid work history, make sure the employers match up business where your child has been employed.

Keep in mind that it is possible for identity thieves to use your child's social security number without using their name. Since the Social Security administration uses a number and name matching system their check would not catch this type of identity theft.

Involve your local authorities if you feel your child has been victimized

If you believe that your child has become a victim of identity thieves then make sure to file a report with your local police department immediately. This report will help you and your child recover from the identity theft incident.

Without a police report it may be difficult to prove that some of the fraudulent charges were no perpetrated by a third party and you may, in the worst case scenario,

be held financially liable. Additionally, based off of the police report all three major credit bureaus will amend or erase the fraudulent information on your child's credit report.

If you don't know how to contact your local police department simply dial directory assistance and ask for the non emergency telephone number for the local police.

Consider a proactive identity theft solution provider for your entire family

Protecting your children from identity theft is an extremely important but time consuming job. It is possible to keep up with all the aspects of this important task, but we strongly recommend that most parents consider using an identity theft protection service to keep their child's identity safe and secure.

We have reviewed all of the major identity theft protection services and have found that only one, LifeLock, provides extensive identity theft protection for children.

LifeLock checks your child's credit file at each of the major credit bureaus and their account with the social security administration multiple times per year. If any fraudulent activity is detected LifeLock will place fraud alerts on your child's credit report and flag them as being associated with a minor child.

The service is extremely economical at less than $2.00 per month and will save you hours of work and research. It also gives you peace of mind that a professional organization that is focused on proactive identity theft protection, and well versed in its protection, is safeguarding your children.

In order to enroll your child in LifeLock one or more parents must also be a member of the service. We strongly recommend this service for all members of your family.

Help curb child identity theft by sharing these tips with other parents

Unfortunately, child identity theft will likely be a growing risk for years to come. As a parent you have the opportunity to not only help protect your own children from being victimized, but other children as well.

To that end, please help us curb the threat of child identity theft by telling every parent you know about this guide.

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LifeLock to stop setting fraud alerts on behalf of consumers; Launches LifeLock Identity Alerts

LifeLock announced in an email sent to subscribers today that the identity theft protection service will soon stop setting fraud alerts on behalf of consumers. This announcement comes after a judgement this May in a case brought by Experian in which the credit bureau challenged the legality of LifeLock's practice of setting fraud alerts on behalf of consumers.

LifeLock CEO Todd davis stated that the company had been anticipating the possibility of this outcome and have invested in developing a new system call LifeLock Identity Alerts. According to Davis, this new system:

• Uses more sophisticated and scientific algorithms to spot identity fraud
• Mines more data sources than the credit bureaus. These additional sources include data from many retailers, banks, mortgage lenders, utilities, and auto lenders
• Examines patterns over time across this network to help predict future identity risks and the vulnerability of members

Davis did not give a specific date on which fraud alerts would stop being set, although he did say that the transition would happen over the next few weeks and that LifeLock members would not experience any interruption in the protection of their identities.

We have not been able to review the new features of LifeLock Identity Alerts in detail as of yet, but have included the full text of the email message sent by Davis below. We will provide more information once we have more details on the new tools and timeline for transition.

**Important Message from LifeLock**

Dear Valued Member,

LifeLock is pleased to announce we are beginning implementation of a new and innovative identity protection system that provides you even better and broader protection. This new system, which replaces fraud alerts, is better because it offers you the benefit of real-time protection in some instances, and broader because it identifies identity risks beyond the scope of fraud alerts.

As you may know, as a result of litigation with the credit bureau, Experian, a Court has ruled that LifeLock must soon end the practice of setting fraud alerts on behalf of consumers. The placement of a fraud alert on a member's profile is just one of the many tools LifeLock uses to protect our members from the growing threat of identity theft. We have been planning for the possibility of this ruling by developing even better ways to help protect you, and are excited about the broader protection we will roll out in the coming weeks.

The new LifeLock Identity Alerts will notify you by email, postal mail, and/or phone anytime we detect your personal information being used to apply for many forms of credit cards, wireless services, retail credit, utilities, check orders/reorders, mortgage loans, auto loans, and non-credit related payday loans. If the application is fraudulent, our remediation team will take action to help restore your good name.

This system uses very powerful, forward-looking models to help predict fraud and identity risks before fraud occurs. For example, the system:

* Uses more sophisticated and scientific algorithms to spot identity fraud;
* Mines more data sources than the credit bureaus. These additional sources include data from many retailers, banks, mortgage lenders, utilities, and auto lenders; and
* Examines patterns over time across this network to help predict future identity risks and the vulnerability of members.

While this transition takes place in the coming weeks, you will notice no interruption to the around-the-clock protection you depend on from LifeLock.

In addition to this new identity protection system, LifeLock will continue to provide you with the full suite of other personal protection services you have come to know and trust – including WalletLockTM, eReconTM, TrueAddressTM, and of course our $1 Million Total Service Guarantee. If you become a victim of identity theft while a member of LifeLock because of a failure in our service, we will help you fix it, up to $1 million. (Restrictions apply. See LifeLock.com for details)

At LifeLock, we never take your trust in us lightly, and consider it an honor to protect your good name. We are confident you will share our excitement about this improved level of service and the increased peace of mind and protection it will provide you and all our members. If you ever have questions about your membership or this enhancement to your service, please send us an email at member.services@lifelock.com or call us at 1-800-LIFELOCK (543-3562), option #2.

We thank you for your business and your continued trust in LifeLock.

Sincerely,

Todd Davis

Todd Davis
CEO

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Fraud happens to smart people, too

Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger

Most people are too smart to fall for a Nigerian 419 scam. But plenty of smart people fell for Bernie Madoff's investment scams. Madoff was far more subtle than your average scammer. But in this day and age, people ought to be more alert to potential scams than ever before. And yet this wolf in sheep's clothing was able to bilk so many investors. So it looks like we aren't as savvy as we should be.

The root of the problem is the sheer number of scams. There are investment seminars, smoke and mirror charities, phishing emails and even text messages. I got a "phext" (phishing text message) from "r.yahoo.com" that said, "changed secret question, log in to update, or text HELP or to end STOP." Naturally, this raised my suspicions, so I did an online search which led me to a forum discussion of this particular scam. Apparently, any response to this text message would have allowed hackers to access plenty of proprietary data.

A prominent security and privacy researcher emailed me to describe an attempted Craigslist scam:

"Robert, so, I registered on Craigslist and posted our above ground pool for sale. Within minutes got a reply from someone asking some basic questions (most of which could have been answered if they had read the advert). Their reply to my answers raised an immediate red flag. This individual claimed to be from Miami and was willing to write me a check for the full amount, plus shipping charges for their shipping company that would pick up the pool. In other words, I deposit a check (in context it seemed to be either a business or personal check, either way I would have had to wait for it to clear) and when it clears, I keep my asking price and give the difference to the shipping company when they arrive to pick up the pool.

I've ceased communication with this individual, but this just stinks to high heaven. First, if it is their own shipping company, why should I have to pay them? Second, no way I'm going to deposit this check into my account and risk having my bank info show up on their statement. Third, why would someone in Miami (above ground pools aren't all that popular down there, it seems to me) want to pay to have a used above ground pool shipped all the way from New England? Fourth, I'm just nervous about stuff like that anyway.

Ever heard of/encountered that kind of situation before?"

This is an advanced fee scam! Now, since I am obsessively screaming about this stuff all day, I can see this coming from a mile away, as did my friend. But those who are less tuned in to the variety of potential scams might easily fall victim to this type of crime.

Financial troubles are forcing people to seek out new opportunities. When we are searching for jobs or attempting to sell our belongings online, or simply spending more time using social networking sites, we become more susceptible to the latest scams. But the biggest danger is our own egos and our complacency, as we foolishly believe that we are all too smart to become victims.

According to The Wall Street Journal, many scam victims are pretty smart. Three recent studies showed that victims of investment fraud tend to be better educated and have higher incomes than nonvictims, and that most have been investing for a decade or more. Because they are so confident in their own judgment, they fail to seek out professional advice.

Years ago, the Better Business Bureau conducted a test in which they planted a man dressed in normal street clothes outside a store during the holiday season. They gave the man a plastic pumpkin and a bell to ring. He spent twenty minutes ringing the bell, and during that time, people kept dropping money into the pumpkin. When the people were questioned, most believed that they had just donated to the Salvation Army, simply because the man was ringing a bell. Like Pavlov's dogs, they opened their wallets.

Criminals aren't any smarter than we are, but they know how to capitalize on our stupidity. You need to take steps to protect your own identity, because while you are smart enough to inform yourself about these issues, you can't prevent some company from stupidly compromising your sensitive personal data. Prevent new account fraud by getting a credit freeze. Go to ConsumersUnion.org and follow the steps for your particular state. This is an absolutely necessary tool to secure your credit. In most cases, it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. This makes your Social Security number useless to a potential identity thief. And invest in identity theft protection. Not all forms of identity theft protection can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk.

Robert Siciliano, identity theft speaker, discusses various scams on TBS's Movie and a Makeover.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQpHdaC82Uk[/youtube]

Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com , an identity theft expert, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 companies and startups as an advisor on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. Siciliano's thoughts and advice on all these matters appear often in both the televised and print news media including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of security training as a member of the American Society of Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on High Alert; How to take control of your personal security and prevent fraud. He's also partnered with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness about the growing threat of identity theft and to provide tips on how you can protect yourself.

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Scammers continue to target Craigslist users

Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger

Craigslist scammers aren't letting up. Fox News reports on scams that target online car buyers, in which crooks spend about a hundred dollars on a junk car, then steal a similar car and advertise it on Craigslist. They remove the vehicle identification number plate from the junk car and the ignition and put them in the stolen car. Buyers don't realize their new cars are stolen until the scammers are long gone.

In another Craigslist scam, a Massachussetts woman was horrified when a stranger alerted her to a Craigslist post offering her baby up for adoption. The advertisement read: "A CUTE BABY BOY FOR ADOPTION HE IS VERY HEALTHY AND READY FOR ADOPTION FOR MORE YOU COME BACK TO US," and featured a photo of the woman's seven month old son, which had been lifted from their family blog. (I've said before that you shouldn't reveal specifics when posting to blogs and social media sites. Don't post your address, date of birth, kids' names, pets' names, phone numbers, or any account numbers or financial information of any kind. You really shouldn't post children's photos online.) When the mother responded to the post, she was informed that the baby was Canadian but currently living in an African orphanage. The mother said that while her son wasn't being harmed, she felt he was violated. She alerted the FBI and the scammer has been removed from Craiglist as well as Yahoo.

I spoke with Jeffrey A. Kasky, Esq., renowned adoption expert from OneWorldAdoption.com. He said, "Families who hope to adopt a child are frequently medically unable to have children for themselves.  As such, they look at adoption opportunities from an emotional rather than a logical perspective, and are therefore more vulnerable to scams. What would tug at your heartstrings more than thinking that this beautiful little boy was stuck in an orphanage halfway around the world? All you have to do is wire us $300 now, then more and more and more, and he can be yours…"

These scammers are lower than that black smelly stuff in the sewer.

When we were young, our parents told us not to talk to strangers. Strangers are not yet part of our trusted circle. So don't trust them! There's no benefit to paranoia, but being a little guarded can prevent you from stumbling into a vulnerable situation.  Since predators use online classifieds to lure unsuspecting victims, you should find out as much as possible about strangers who contact you. Get a name, email address and phone number, and use Google, iSearch.com, or social networking sites to look for anything suspicious. If you find a red flag, use Intelius.com to investigate further.

Whenever possible, deal locally. People who cannot meet you in your town are more likely to be scammers. And even when you do meet in person, you should be wary. Never meet in private. Choose a public location surrounded by people. If possible, bring along a friend. Predators thrive on isolation, and by pairing up, you reduce your chances of being attacked. Be street smart, and dress accordingly. Don't wear expensive jewelry or provocative clothes. Scarves and loose clothing give attackers something to grab. Wear shoes that will allow you to run and kick if necessary.

Trust your gut and don't discount any troubling or negative feelings about the meeting. If something seems wrong, it probably is wrong. Don't be afraid to cancel. Unfortunately there is an inherent risk in meeting someone you don't know.  Being guarded can keep you from getting into a vulnerable situation. Let your spouse or a friend know where you are going and when you will be back. Use your cell phone to keep in touch throughout the meeting.

Robert Siciliano, identity theft speaker, discusses all kinds of scams on TBS's Movie and a Makeover.

Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com , an identity theft expert, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 companies and startups as an advisor on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. Siciliano's thoughts and advice on all these matters appear often in both the televised and print news media including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of security training as a member of the American Society of Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on High Alert; How to take control of your personal security and prevent fraud. He's also partnered with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness about the growing threat of identity theft and to provide tips on how you can protect yourself.

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